Radclyffe - Safe Harbor

"Okay, lets have the rest of it," Reese directed.

As Caroline was finishing her story, Tory reappeared from the house. She looked at the two young women, both of whom were looking scared. At first glance they looked tough enough in their leather pants, silver arm bracelets, ear cuffs, and punk hair cuts. She thought that Bri had a tattoo on her upper arm that hadnt been there before as well. But she could tell from the way Caroline pressed against Bris side and the cold set to Reeses features that something was wrong.

"Whats going on?" Tory asked.

Reese said a few more words that Tory couldnt hear as Bri and Caroline rose to leave. Tory waited until they were out of ear shot before she asked again, "Trouble?"

Reese nodded as she joined Tory. "I think so. Ill tell you when were alone."

Tory noted Reeses uncharacteristically slow approach. "Youre in pain, arent you?"

"Some," Reese admitted reluctantly. "Is my mother still here?"

"Theyre in the kitchen. I really think she just wanted to see that you were all right, but come have something to eat. Then youre going back to bed."

Reese followed her, wondering how she was going to tell her that she needed to go to work. Just as they entered the dining area, Catherine turned to them with the phone in her outstretched hand.

"Somebody wants to talk to Colonel Conlon --- wont take no for an answer," she announced with an edge to her voice.

Reese took the phone. "This is Colonel Conlon." She straightened unconsciously as she listened, her face unreadable. "Yes, sir - thats correct sir. ... In my opinion it was the best course of action, yes sir.... Hes going to live, sir. ... Im fine, sir, just a scratch."

She looked over at her mother, who was watching her intently. "Shes here, yes sir. ... No sir, Im staying at the doctors.... Victoria King, yes sir."

Her fingers tightened on the phone, her blue eyes darkening. "Are you sure you want me to answer that, General? It seems to me its specifically against regulations to ask questions of that nature." Her eyes met Torys, and held them fiercely. "I wont deny it. I wont deny her , sir."

After a moment, she slowly replaced the receiver. Every face looked at her questionly. She spoke into the silent room.

"That was my father. Apparently he has very good intelligence sources." She looked at her mother sympathetically. "I appreciate what you must have gone through. He just threatened to have me court-martialled if I admitted to a relationship with Victoria."

"Can he do that?" Catherine exclaimed, clearly shocked.

Reese shrugged. "If he wants a very messy, very public trial. Im an attorney, and he knows me well enough to know I would never give up my commission without a fight. I think he was just testing."

Despite her calm tone, Tory could see the conversation had taken a toll. Reese was pale and her forehead was dotted with perspiration. There was a fine tremor visible in her hands. Tory went to her, taking Reese's hand. "You need to be in bed. I never should have let you up as it is. Come upstairs."

"Im afraid Tory is going to have her work cut out for her," Kate observed as she watched her daughter reluctantly follow Tory upstairs. "Reese has very few of her fathers bad qualities, but she does get her stubbornness from him." She pointedly ignored the snort of disbelief from her lover.

"My sister can handle her, Im sure," Catherine stated as she accompanied Reeses mother and her lover out to their car. "Im glad Im going to be here to see it. My kids will be with their grandparents until school starts, and my husband is on retreat at Kripalu."

"It should help that Reese appears to be in love with her. Is Tory aware of that?" Kate asked.

Catherine hesitated, not sure just how to discuss this with Reeses mother.

"Oh, I dont want you to betray any confidences," Kate assured her. "I couldnt be happier."

"I think cautious would be the word to describe my sister at the moment," Catherine responded, hoping fervently that Kate was right about Reeses feelings. Because it was painfully clear that Tory was hopelessly in love with the handsome, hardheaded cop, regardless of how she tried to deny it.

"I have no doubt that given time Reese will prove herself to her."

"Will her father really make trouble for Reese?" Catherine asked in concern.

"I doubt it, not after Reese made it clear she would fight it. Roger was always too ready to use his power for personal gain, unlike Reese, who is inherently valiant. She does what she does because she believes service is the highest form of honor. He would not want his own reputation tarnished. He could pass off a lesbian wife as some acquired perversion on my part, but a daughter?" She laughed, "How fate has conspired against the man!"

"Obviously, Reese got her good parts from you."

For a moment Kate looked pained. "I wish I could take the credit, but I believe Reese has simply taken what was once commendable about the military to heart. She is proud to be a soldier." She looked away for a moment, then smiled faintly. "And Im proud she is, too."

"Call me if you need us for anything," Kate called as she pulled away.

Catherine hoped that they had had all the excitement they were going to see for one summer, but a nagging voice told her that August was going to be a long month.

Chapter Eighteen

"Are they all gone?" Tory asked cautiously as she ventured out onto the deck. She found Catherine stirring a pitcher of margaritas and nearly wept at the sight. "God, am I ready for one of those!"

"We are alone at last," Cath informed her, handing her a drink. "And how is the famous patient?"

Tory blushed. "Out like a light. I cant get her to take any narcotics, and I think the pain is wearing her out." She sank into the canvas deck chair with a sigh. "Im wondering if I shouldnt send her to Boston for follow-up."

Catherine looked at her in surprise. "I thought you said she was going to be fine?"

"She is - but Im sleeping with her for Gods sake!"

"I was meaning to ask you about that," Catherine said teasingly. "Just how did that come about? I got the sense this morning - or was it last night - that you werent quite ready for that."

"Who says Im ready? It just happened. Well, actually she seduced me. Oh, hell. Ive been wanting her for weeks."

"Is she as good as she looks like shed be?"

"Jesus, Cath!"

"Well, you said shed never been with a woman. Naturally Im curious!"

" Naturally. " Tory remarked sarcastically. "She is far better than she looks, if you can imagine that! Its got nothing to do with how she makes love-" She stopped, blushing as she remembered their brief interlude just an hour before. "Well, of course, theres that-"

"Of course."

"I just meant theres so much more to it than that. Oh, I cant explain it! She just has to look at me and Im ready. So you can obviously see my judgement is impaired. Now you can see why I shouldnt be treating her."

Catherine laughed. "Tor, your brain is still functioning, even if the rest of your circuitry is shorted out. Dont worry about it - youre not doing anything wrong. If you two had been together for years and this had happened, youd feel perfectly comfortable looking after her."

"Its not the medical issue Im worried about," Tory confessed. "Im afraid to send her back to work. Im afraid of her work. Last night I saw her get shot. I thought I had seen her killed. I didnt realize until that moment how much she means to me. Now weve made love, Cath. Shes opened the door to places Im not even sure I wanted to know about. God, I dont even know if she loves me, and Im terrified of losing her!"

"Tor," Catherine said gently, "I cant imagine how horrible last night was for you. The woman youre crazy over almost got herself killed. Everything must seem shaky right now. Youre exhausted. Go upstairs, lie down beside her, and try to sleep. I just want to remind you of one thing. Ten years ago when you were lying in a hospital bed, none of us ever wanted to see you in a scull again - because we had almost lost you. Now every day I pray that you will someday row again, because you love it and you need it. If Reese werent the woman she is- the cop, the soldier - you wouldnt love her. I dont imagine loving her will be easy, but I can see that you do. You cant change that, any more than you can change her."